Promoting Organic Agriculture

Successful Cases in Promoting Organic

Agriculture
Promoting organic agriculture has been done in several
ways and initiated by different groups in the country.
 In accordance with the Implementing Rules and Regulation
(IRR) local government units like Tayabas City and
Pagbilao, Quezon have created their local technical
committees on organic agriculture and started process of
establishing organic post through the DA’s Marketing
assistance program.
 A local ordinance passed in Tayabas City, Quezon
declared as an Organic Zone.
 In Alaminos, Pangasinan, an ordinance (Provincial
Resolution 2011) was approved establishing an organic
agriculture support fund in the city.
I. Private-sector initiatives
1. Organic Producers Trade Association (OPTA)
 A national civil society organization formed in 1995 with 11
members.
 By 2003, its membership has grown to 255 “trade members” directly
involved in organic production and trading, and 109 associate
members who are mostly consumers interested in organic farming.
 Since its establishment, OPTA has been in the forefront of organic
movement, taking part in drafting national standards, lobbying the
government, establishing and facilitating weekend market and
tradeshows, conducting seminars and workshops, and disseminating
information through its regular publication “Organic Matters”.
 OPTA develop its own quality assurance system which is more
accommodating of agro economic realities in the country.
I. Private-sector initiatives

1. Organic Producers Trade Association (OPTA)

 Blue label – given for 100% certified organic products.
 Green label – for products from farms still in the process of
conversion and have not fully complied with the requirements.
 Yellow – for products with “70% substantially reduce chemical
inputs.
I. Private-sector initiatives

2. Mara’s Organic Market (MOM)

 Mara Pardo de Tavera started an organic market in 1993, which
eventually became a personal advocacy to let the public know the
benefits of organic farming. With a starting capital of 50,000, her
organic market became one of the first in Asia.
 She believes that organic living is the way to achieve good health
not only for us, but our planet as well.
 MOM is the pioneer in organic markets in the Philippines.
 Today MOM offers fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits, free-range
chicken, to Makati and Alabang communities.
 MOM intends to continue as an open-air market, but in the near
future, their plan is to establish a number of truly organic stores
and restaurants all over the Philippines.
II. NGO initiatives

1. Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng

Agrikultura) MASIPAG
 The goal of MASIPAG is to empower resource-poor
farmers and improve their quality of life.
 Established in 1987, it focuses on resource-poor
farmers’ problems particularly in bringing back
traditional rice varieties, improving these varieties and
minimizing cost of production inputs.
 Established the Participatory Guarantee Systeem
(PGS) in the country when it installed the Farmers’
Guarantee System for its farmers.
II. NGO initiatives

1. Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng

Agrikultura) MASIPAG
Features of MASIPAG Farmers’ Guarantee System
2. Setting organic standards
3. Establishing internal quality control systems
4. Product and market development
5. Processing facilities
6. Management capacity building
 MASIPAG, is pursuing approval of Participatory
Guarantee System at the National Organic Board, as
part of national certification policy.
II. NGO initiatives

1. Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng

Agrikultura) MASIPAG
 For MASIPAG, small scale farmers with better
income, better health and better environment shall be
the goal.
II. NGO initiatives

2. Altertrade
 Altertrades’ vision is to be professional, innovative and
socially responsible business organization in
partnership with self-reliant and self determining
communities responding to the demands of costumers
in the Philippines and the world for quality produce
from sustainable agriculture.
 This organization facilitates, develops and expands a
trading system to increase self-reliance and
independence of marginalized organized producers
and to provide consumers with competitive quality
products.
II. NGO initiatives

2. Altertrade
Altertrade commits to the following:
 Promote sustainable agriculture and organic farming.
 Serve as a reliable and stable market and processor
of people’s product.
Produce and supply competitively priced, quality
organic fertilizer and other farm inputs.
II. NGO initiatives

3. Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM)

 PRRM and Global Links Management Institute (GLMI)
in coordination with MASIPAG and other NGOs
initiated organic agriculture in the province of Nueva
Viscaya.
 A Farmers’ Day was held October 27, 2012 to provide
an opportunity among organic farmers to showcase
and market their products.
Likewise, PRRM and GLMI also conducted a Farmers’
Conference in Barangay Consuelo in Sta. Fe town to
raise the level of awareness among stakeholders on
the effect on chemically-produced agricultural products.
III. LGU initiatives

1. Dumingag, Zamboanga Del Sur

 Mayor Jun Pacalioga of Dumingag,
Zamboanga Del Sur was awarded with “One
World Award for 2012” because of his visionary
commitment and his impressive achievements
to promote organic agriculture and sustainable
rural development in his town.
 His Sustainable Organic Agriculture Program
aims to address poverty, sickness and hunger
of his people.
III. LGU initiatives

1. Dumingag, Zamboanga Del Sur

Salient features in promoting the organic agriculture program includes
• People empowerment
• Transformative education, transforming hearts and minds anchored
to sustainable organic agriculture
• Collectively leadership
• Community organizing
• Strong organizational and internal capacity
• Convergence, pooled resources from different stakeholders
• Mobilized all sectors in implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Build thrust among people
• Intensive people’s education
III. LGU initiatives

2. Davao City
The city of Davao was the first local government unit in
the country to enact an organic agriculture ordinance
with the passage of Ordinance 0384-10 in 2010.
 The city leads in promoting organic agriculture.
 The city is in the process of identifying organic zones,
weekend markets for organic products of the market
and estabklishing a PGS.
III. LGU initiatives

3. Negros Island
 Declared as the first Organic Island in the Country as
pushed by the two Governors of Negros Oriental and
Occidental in partnership with NISARD, a “not for profit
and no stock” foundation registered in the Philippines.
 NISARD believes that sustainable, organic agriculture
and rural development is a mean to improve local
conditions.
III. LGU initiatives

3. Negros Island
Key success factors and lessons learned by NISARD:
1. Establish policies supporting organic agriculture
2. Establish organic standards and protocols aligned
with national and international (IFOAM) standards
3. Public and private partnership
4. Provision of direct linkages
5. Clustering of farmers in groups
6. “Localized” economic activities
7. Flexible acceptance of various organic technologies
III. LGU initiatives

4. Quezon Province
 In May 2011, “Organic Market sa Perez Park” started
located at the Capitol Compound , Lucena City.
 To ensure the quality of organic products being sold at
Perez Park, the UP Los Banos DA-BAR Organic
Vegetable Project proposed the idea of setting up a
PGS.
 The Provincial Agriculturist has allocated funds for the
establishment and piloting of the Quezon PGS.
III. LGU initiatives

5. Samal, Bataan
 Members of the Municipal Council passed several
resolution in support of organic farming. These include
the following:
1. Declaring the municipality an organic zone
2. One day a week as organic farming, and
3. A portion of the Samal public market designated as a
wholesale section for organic products.
IV. Academe initiatives

1. University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB)

 As early as 2006, the Agricultural System Cluster (ASC),
UPLB initiated research to document the use of pesticide by
vegetable farmers in Laguna.
 The result of these research activities underlined the critical
need to introduce organic agriculture so that farmers can be
weaned from their heavy dependence on pesticide and
synthetic fertilizers in their farming operation.
 The ASC created an organic agriculture program for
research, development and extension to support the
government, peoples organizations, non-government
organizations, private sector and LGUs towards science
based and people-oriented sustainable organic agriculture
IV. Academe initiatives

1. University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB)

 As part of its information dissemination, the ASC-
UPLB Organic Agriculture Program (OAP) conducts
various training courses on topics that include:
1. Techniques in organic vegetable production;
2. Organizational strengthening of farmers’ association;
3. Training of Farmer Trainers;
4. Marketing of organic products; and other special
topics upon request.
IV. Academe initiatives

1. University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB)

 The ASC-UPLB OAP develops and distributes IEC
materials such as the handbook on organic vegetable
farming available in four dialects (Tagalog, Bisaya,
Bikol and Ilokano), pest management notes, calendar
planner, an upcoming booklet on 1010 Frequently
Asked Questions about Organic Agriculture etc.
 Skills enhancement, training and multi-sectorial
awareness campaigns are also given priority.
IV. Academe initiatives

2. University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU)

 The UPOU through the Faculty of Management and
Development Studies (FMDS) is the first in the
Phlippines to offer the on-line distance learning
Certificate Curse on Organic Agriculture (OA) since
July 2012.
 Graduates of the OA course includes practioners;
advocates; development workers, young as well as
retired professionals from private sector, NGOs and the
religious sector etc… who are eager to learn more
about organic agriculture
IV. Academe initiatives

2. University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU)

 Learners say the course has made them confident to
take it upon themselves to advance organic agriculture
to their families, friends, colleagues, neighborhood and
their communities.
IV. Academe initiatives

3. Benguet State University (BSU)

 BSU declared itself a pro-organic university on
September 14, 2004 and has undertaken research,
instruction, extension and production in organic
agriculture.
 The Regional Development Council (RDC) of the
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) through RDC
Executive Committee Resolution No. CAR-011
approved BSU’s organic farming initiatives in the
region and called for the promotion of organic
agriculture on the Cordillera.
IV. Academe initiatives

3. Benguet State University (BSU)

 BSU’s Organic Agriculture program consist of the following:
• BS degree program and MS courses on Organic agriculture
• Certification in Practical Organic Agriculture
• Established the BSU Internal Guarantee System (BIGS) for
Organic Farming
• In 2009, the Cordillera Organic Agriculture Development
Center was launched.
• Organic Agriculture Farm is a certified producer of organic
herbs, vegetables and fruits, with Organic Certificate No.
0038F10 issued by OCCP.
 Challenges in Promoting
Organic Agriculture
Organic agriculture, being relatively new in the country,
is challenged not only by issues in production,
marketing, certification and guarantee systems but also
in advancing organic agriculture.
 The widespread advocacy efforts were initiated early
on by civil society groups and private business sector.
However, promotion to and adoption by farmers is still
faced with some challenges.
 Confusing Programs in Agriculture

 At the national level, both organic and conventional farming

are promoted with the intention of offering our farmer a
choice. However at the ground level, this has caused
confusion among farmers.
 The agricultural technician promoting organic farming is
also the same person promoting conventional production.
This is because in many municipalities, due to lack of staff,
the person assigned to be the OA focal person is the same
person in charge of the High Value Commercial Crops
(HVCC) program.
 Under this program, the use synthetic and chemical
pesticide is part of the technology packaged being promoted
to farmers. On the other hand, the agricultural technician is
also lost.
 Confusing Programs in Agriculture

 Another issue is the Corn Commercialization Program.

 Many agriculture technicians at LGU level promote both
Organic Agriculture Program and the Corn
Commercialization Program.
 The corn seeds being promoted under the program are two
genetically modified varieties, Round-up Ready (RR) Corn
and Bt Corn.
GMOs are a big NO in organic farming.
The added issue is that many of the agricultural technicians
are not aware that the RR corn and Bt corn they are
promoting to farmers are GMOs that causes detrimental
effects on agrobiodiversity, environment and human health
in the long term.
Organic Agriculture Farmers can be penalized

Under Section 26 of the Organic Agriculture Act

provide penalties to persons who mislabel or claim that
their products are organic when they are not.
This is important so that consumers as well a honest
organic farmers can be protected from unscrupulous
producers and traders. However, under Section 17,
only the third party certified products are allowed to be
labeled as organically produced.
This means organic farmers, no matter how honest
they are in following the organic standards shall also
not be allowed to be label their products as “organic”
without the third party certification required by the OAA.
Stakeholders lack information about OA and its
program

 While there are numerous programs by different agencies

promoting organic agriculture, there are still misconceptions
and misinformation on organic agriculture. Many farmers
still believe that when they use chicken manure as fertilizer,
they can already be called organic.
Another tendency is to regard organic agriculture as
“substitution agriculture” or mere replacement of chemical
inputs with organic fertilizers and botanical concoctions.
Perhaps, there should be and effort to simplify and translate
into local dialects the provision of Organic Agriculture Act or
RA 10068 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations
(IRR) and the Philippine National Standards (PNS) so that
farmers and common people can easily understand them.
Stakeholders lack information about OA and its
program

 Farmers, local government units and other stakeholders

lack of information on how to avail of funds allocated for
organic agriculture.
 At the local level, development and promotion of
organic agriculture are restrained when it is not the
priority of some local government units. Thus no local
budget is allocated to it and no staff is assigned to serve
as OA focal person.
 With the OA Act of 2010 in place, local policies should
be formulated to promote strategic agriculture program
in the region, province, municipalities and down to the
barangays. This will establish the full trust and
confidence of organic farmers to government programs.
 Pointers in Promoting Organic
Agriculture
 In promoting Organic agriculture, your intension should
be to reach the following group of people who are
stakeholders in the organic system:
1. Farmers
2. Processors
3. Consumers
4. Retailers, traders, distributors and other service
provider
5. Development workers
6. Science community, academe, and educators
7. Policy makers
 Pointers in Promoting Organic
Agriculture
 In a policy brief by UNCTAD, the following key steps were identified in
the UNCTAD-UNEP Best Practices for Organic Policy: What developing
countries can do to promote the Organic Agriculture Sector:
1. Setting sustainable organic agriculture as a priority;
2. Assessing current policies and programs, and removing disincentives to
sustainable/ecological/organic agriculture;
Ex: Subsidies on agrochemicals
3. Training extension workers in sustainable organic agricultural practices;
4. Encouraging farmer-to-farmer exchanges;
5. Compiling and disseminating indigenous agricultural knowledge and
varieties;
6. Funding research on sustainable organic agriculture
7. Promoting development of local and regional markets for organic
products.
 Pointers in Promoting Organic
Agriculture
Similarly, in an IFOAM publication by G. Rundgren (2002),
it emphasizes the role of social and economic policies in
promoting organic agriculture and addressing food
insecurity.
 Rundgren (2002) suggest the following policy measures:
1. Identify and recognized already existing organic
production systems
2. Define clear policy for sustainable agricultural
development; Incorporate organic agriculture as a
central part of overall policy
3. Support farmers converting to organic agriculture, or for
the introduction of certain organic farming technologies.
 Pointers in Promoting Organic
Agriculture
 Economic measures
• Reform national economic indicators for the agricultural sector to
reflect depletion and degradation of natural resources
• Implement the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle: Internalise “external” costs
for environmental and health damaged in the price of the products
• Eliminate subsidies that encourage natural resources degradation
or depletion
 Food and markets
• Eliminate agricultural support programs that create commodity
surpluses and lower global commodity prices
• Abolish distorting incentives
• Prioritize safe food crops and investment in the food sector
• Promote sustainable consumption pattern of local food
• Promote value addition
 Pointers in Promoting Organic
Agriculture
 Research, extension service, farming education and information
exchange
• Prioritized research into organic agriculture, livestocks and fod
crops
• Encourage strong linkages among research, development and
extension with farmers groups
• Reform extension service and agriculture education and rtain staff
both in knowledge and methodology
• Support farm based research, farmer-to-farmer exchange and
other participatory methods
 Empowering people
• Include clear commitment to government-NGO partnership and to
the democratic process, inclusion of women, small farmers, IP
• Support producers’ farmer’ organization’ women and children and
community organizations to play a leading role in development
 Pointers in Promoting Organic
Agriculture
 Access to resources
• Secure farmers’ land tenure
• Make credits accessible for organic projects and production
• Reject privatization of genetic resources and keep seeds in the
public domain
• Protect farmers’ rights to develop seeds and save seeds.
END OF SLIDE!